Things to do in Kumamoto Prefecture

I had a wonderful and truly enjoyable day trip to Mount Aso! The tour was very well planned, with a comfortable pace and plenty of breaks to enjoy each stop without feeling rushed. I especially appreciated having enough free time to explore on my own rather than being constantly guided, which made the experience even more enjoyable. Jimmy was an excellent guide! His knowledgeable and funny personality made the bus rides entertaining, and he shared lots of interesting information about the places we visited in a very engaging way. His English was also excellent, making everything easy to understand and the entire trip very comfortable. A special highlight was the delicious milk ice cream at Mount Aso! Overall, it was a fantastic experience, and I would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting the area. Thank you, Jimmy, for such a lovely day!

Tour guide Ms. Kong was humorous, engaging, and very knowledgeable about local customs and traditions. The driver was extremely polite and friendly, and greeted every passenger each time we got off the bus! Everything has returned to normal following the Kumamoto earthquakes! Sightseeing and tourism are completely fine, there aren't many tourists, and the attractions are very pleasant to walk around. Joining a day tour when traveling independently allows you to visit many places that are inconvenient to reach by public transportation! The itinerary was Aso Kusasenri -> Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine -> Takachiho Torokko Train -> Takachiho Gorge stroll. The Takachiho Torokko Train requires an additional payment of 2,300 yen per person! The weather was still quite hot in late October, so everything was lush and green, but the local scenery was great to see! Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine was my absolute favorite—it has such an amazing atmosphere!

I visited Kumamoto Castle for the second time! As expected of one of Japan's three most famous castles, it was large and magnificent! A few years ago, a major earthquake in Kumamoto destroyed parts of the castle, and restoration work is still ongoing, but from a tourist's perspective, there were no issues touring Kumamoto Castle! I highly recommend purchasing your admission tickets in advance through Klook! This is because at the entrance, there are separate lines for buying tickets and for those who pre-purchased tickets. If you show the staff your QR code, you can enter immediately, which significantly reduces your waiting time, making it a huge advantage!

Don’t shy away from Kumamoto! It’s safe to visit even after the recent earthquake. Ms Kong was an amazing guide, she’s very well informed and eloquent. Great explanation at all the locations and she always give good recommendations. Mr Xiao was our coach driver, he’s punctual and professional. Thank you for this great experience!

We arrived early at the Kumamoto Station Shinkansen West Exit to meet up. Our tour guide, Sun Peng, came over to gather the group. Since we were carrying luggage and planning to leave the tour in Kurokawa, the guide proactively asked if we had already arranged our hotel pick-up and drop-off. Although we could have arranged it ourselves, he went ahead and did it for us. Since Kurokawa has multiple parking lots, as a tourist, it would have been difficult to clearly communicate the exact pick-up spot with the hotel. Thumbs up for the guide's thoughtfulness! It was a gorgeous sunny day, and every scenic spot made for great photos. As a tourist, the experience was fantastic. Guide Sun also helped take photos for everyone, kept the commentary along the way witty and humorous, took meticulous care of us, and reminded us in advance of important points to keep in mind during the sightseeing. This trip is a great one-day tour option, much more convenient than planning and executing it yourself, and I highly recommend it!

This was a tour I took with my parents. I was worried the schedule might be a bit too tight, but we were able to take our time exploring at a relaxed pace, and my parents had no trouble at all. In particular, our guide, Lee Hyang-yong, was truly exceptionally kind and gave fantastic explanations, making the tour even more satisfying. Our driver was also skilled, so we were able to travel without any motion sickness. Thanks to everyone, we were able to create wonderful memories. Highly recommended!

A perfect nature tour of Kyushu, thanks to our guide, Nanami! I just finished my trip to Kumamoto and Miyazaki and couldn't wait to write this glowing review. The itinerary for this tour group was exceptionally well-designed, perfectly blending natural wonders with cultural experiences. In Aso, we witnessed one of the world's largest active volcanoes, an unforgettable experience of the Earth's pulse. We strolled across the vast grasslands of Kusasenri, feeling a unique sense of openness and tranquility. The boat ride through Takachiho Gorge was the highlight of the entire trip, making us feel as if we had stepped into a mythical world. The 'soul' of all these wonderful experiences was undoubtedly our guide, Nanami. She is incredibly professional and passionate: 1. Knowledgeable: She knows Kyushu's history, culture, geological formations, and local specialties like the back of her hand. Her explanations were vivid and engaging, allowing us not just to see the scenery but to understand the stories behind it. 2. Bilingual Communication: Our group had many international friends, and she served everyone throughout the trip with fluent Chinese and English, ensuring seamless communication and taking care of every member. It was very thoughtful. 3. Warm and Attentive: She always had a radiant smile, carefully looked after the elderly and children in the group, and helped everyone solve various problems, just like a reliable older sister. Thanks to Nanami, this journey was filled with warmth and cherished memories. I highly recommend it to anyone planning a trip to Kyushu! I hope to meet her again on my next trip.

This experience was wonderful, we were able to catch dolphins diving and the captain of the boat would drive around until we’d find dolphins. Great for wildlife photography and a new experience!

Although the meeting point was slightly different from the tour pictures due to venue renovations, which could be confusing for first-time visitors, it was easy to spot staff members wearing yellow vests once inside the station, so it wasn't a major issue. This trip included visits to Takachiho Shrine, Takachiho Gorge, Kusasenri in Aso (which has a museum and restaurants available at your own expense), and the South Aso Railway (a 1-hour ride costing 1,560 yen at your own expense). Each transit time was about 30 minutes to an hour and a half. The bus was clean, comfortable, and not crowded. Someone contacted us the day before to confirm the booking. Our tour leader, Jiang, was very friendly, helped take photos, and provided a general introduction to the history of the attractions in Mandarin, making it very easy to understand. Overall, it was a comfortable and convenient one-day trip for a leisurely outdoor excursion.